It’s the big day: The rivalry game between Sunlake and Land O Lakes. The stakes are raised and emotions are heightened. Everyone is wondering who will come out on top, the Seahawks or the Gators. “I was a little bit nervous. I was more excited than nervous because we know the team. We know how they play. So definitely more excited than nervous,” Ava explained. She also added that to calm her down before games, “I just say play hard and go for everything because you might as well go for everything. If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t.” Long before the game, Ava Zalta and her team were preparing to beat Land O’Lakes. “I think that both teams are very good and that it’ll be a competitive game. But ultimately, Sunlake is more well-rounded and I think we’re gonna come out on top.” When asked about how the team prepared themselves, Ava answered, “We watched film and practice. Kind of did serve receive, defense, and just mentally preparing as well.” And just like she said, they defended the court with excellence. Diving everywhere, throwing their bodies around for every single point, inching closer and closer to 25 points. For varsity, teams have to play the best 3 out of 5 sets to win. The third set of the game had everyone on the edge of their seats, Gator fans and Seahawks fans alike holding their breath. Going back and forth between plays, each team earning a point one right after the other. “I was like, can we please finish this game right now? It’s very late and I want to go home. But it was very fun because Sophia got her thousand assists, so we were happy for her.” Fighting to the very end, the Seahawks beat the Gators 3-0. And it couldn’t have been without the amazing defense and energy from Ava.